| Destinations
> Spain >
Madrid
> Restaurants |
 |
Ventura
de la Vega, 10
Metro: Sevilla, Sol |
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La Cabaña
Parrilla
argentina: An Argentine-style grill and steakhouse, features hearty food,
mysteriously good "medicinal" mineral water, Argentine wines
and a perilously inviting grilled provoleta cheese dish. |
C/
Cuchilleros 17
Metro: Sol
Tel: 91 366 42 17
Web: CasaBotin.com |
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El Botín
"The oldest restaurant in the world", this famed
Madrid locale, just off Plaza Mayor, opened for business in 1725. It was
a favorite of writers Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, Scott Fitzgerald,
Graham Greene, and was cited by Galdós in his consummate 19th Century
Spanish novel, Fortunata y Jacinta. Specialties are lamb, suckling
pig, oven-roasted hake. |
Pasadizo
de San Ginés Arenal, 11
Metro: Sol
Tel: 91 365 65 46 |
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Chocolatería San Ginés
A favorite haunt for madrugadores (up all-nighters).
Take a serving of famed churros con chocolate (fritters dipped in rich
melted chocolate), and while away the early morning hours. Over time,
it has become common to finish a night on the town here, chatting, sobering-up
or unwinding. Accordingly, hours of operation are 6pm to 7am (Tue-Sun).
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Paseo
del Recoleto 21
Metro: Colón / Banco de España
Tel: 91 521 54 25 |
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Café Gijón
Established in 1888, this café has a history of
intellectual activity and clientele. Journalists and literati are still
frequent patrons. Legendary poets Federico García Lorca, Antonio
Machado, and Rubén Darío as well as Madrid's favorite
adopted novelist Pérez Galdós, all passed by. Menu is
international cuisine, but with traditional regional Spanish dishes.
Cider-basted hake is a house specialty.
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Plaza
de Santa Ana 6
Metro: Sol, Antón Martín
Tel: 91 429 70 33 |
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Cervecería Alemana
A famous Madrid favorite, its past clientele includes
Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner, and Hemingway was a regular when in Madrid.
Prices are reasonable but the place floods with tourists in the evening.
A good way to travel into Madrid's cultural past, for the imaginative
and well-read. |
C/
Victoria 1
Metro: Sol, Sevilla
Tel: 91 531 04 20 |
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La Fontana de Oro
The oldest tavern in Madrid, dating to the days of Carlos
III, featured by Benito Pérez Galdós in his novel La
Fontana de Oro. The tavern was renovated in 1994, and now has an Irish
pub on the lower level. |
Torrecilla
del Leal 20
Metro: Antón Martín
Tel: 91 528 36 62 |
| Cost:
21 euro |
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Aloque
Interesting wine and tapas bar, with a 300-label wine
list. Locale hosts wine tastings and the staff are willing to share
their knowledge. Tapas specialties include bacalao and smoked beef.
Good atmosphere, open evenings till 1am.
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C/
Echegaray, 15
Metro: Sevilla
Tel: 91 369 07 57 |
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Cardamomo
Mainly a bar, and a venue for contemporary flamenco-fusion
performances. See live music twice a week, or just go there for the atmosphere
and the fashionable crowd. Popular with contemporary nouveau flamenco
devotees. |
C/
Cava Baja 27
Metro: La Latina
Tel: 91 365 33 08 |
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La Covatilla
Intimate flamenco venue and tapas bar. Enjoy great live
flamenco, jazz or blues, and tasty tostas. The interior is rustic but
clean, giving the impression of both traditional cuevas and of a "clean,
well-lighted place".
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C/
Victoria 12
Metro: Sol
Tel: 91 521 23 19 |
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Casa del Abuelo
A tapas bar and café featuring seafood dishes,
near Plaza Santa Ana. Merienda is a popular time to attend (for a post-siesta
snack, late afternoon). Desserts are good; prices are reasonable.
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C/
Álvarez de Gato 3
Metro: Sol
Tel: 91 532 26 20 |
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Las Bravas
Actually one of a chain, but an experience essential
to connoisseurs of spicy patatas bravas fries, its house sauce carries
a patent. Get your porción for about 2 euro. Other tapas specialties
are calamares and tortilla española (Spanish omelette).
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C/
Gravina 10
Metro: Chueca
Tel: 91 522 21 43 |
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Acuarela
A small café with atmosphere and a view of passersby.
The pecera, or fishbowl window, stretches around the curved façade
and provides for a unique espresso-sipping experience. Central location,
bustling neighborhood. Popular with gay crowd, but open to all.
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